As regards signage, if you look at GSV, the NRT has been in place for nearly 20 years. Which begs the question: why was it only recently that you started to use the road? What could you put to an adjudicator on this point?
You also seem to have side-stepped this comment in the NOR: '..there are several signs as you approach Northgate, informing motorists of the restriction ahead'
And indeed there is a large one at the j/w Manor House Drive.
Apparently you made reference to using satnav which IMO would likely lead an adjudicator to think: not paying attention to road signs. But given that the restriction has been there for some time and the age of your car, surely satnav did not direct you to take this turn?
Also, which road prohibits the right turn? It certainly isn't Northgate, so why give this as the location? Is giving the location of the camera sufficient? Others will have views.
Would you please catalogue the dates of contravention and corresponding dates of issue of the PCNs and NORs and whether the discount has been re-offered. Let's see what options you have.
Thank you for looking for possible loopholes — it really does help, so I appreciate it.
Perhaps I wasn’t very clear in my earlier post. There are only two relevant signs from the council:
The “No Right Turn” sign at the Manor, which is the one I circled in the image I shared. You can’t actually see the Manor in the image because it’s outside the frame. This is the only “No Right Turn” sign, and it was the one obscured by the foliage.
There is then a second sign at the beginning of the road that you’re not supposed to enter, which is an “Only Buses and Bicycles” sign. That sign also isn’t visible in the CCTV.
My point is that once you’ve committed to the turn because the “No Right Turn” sign is obscured, I don’t think it would be safe or realistic to suddenly stop just before entering the road. At that point you’re already committed to the manoeuvre and need to be looking out for oncoming traffic, pedestrians etc. Stopping unexpectedly could potentially be dangerous.
I’m also struggling financially to pay even the discounted fines, so taking this to the tribunal and losing would put me in a very difficult position. I’m not trying to avoid paying if I’m in the wrong — I would be willing to accept paying the first one if that helps make my case — but I’m finding it really unfair to be penalised multiple times when the main restriction sign was not clearly visible because it was covered by foliage and they took over 2 weeks to send me the first PCN.
I’m just trying to work out whether I have a reasonable case before taking the risk of going to tribunal and potentially ending up with several full penalties.